The York Theatre Company's all-kid production of the musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown officially opens May 31 at the York Theatre at Saint Peter’s Off-Broadway. Previews began May 24.
The 1967 Clark Gesner musical reunites the characters of the popular Peanuts comic: Charlie Brown, Snoopy and their regular gang of friends. The roles are usually played by adults.
Presented in association with Van Dean of Broadway Records and Sister Productions, the production is inspired by an earlier Feinstein's/54 Below concert that featured young actors from Matilda, Evita, Finding Neverland and Newsies. The show is scheduled to run through June 26.
The seven-member Peanuts gang features Joshua Colley (Elf, The Musical) as Charlie Brown, Gregory Diaz (School of Rock) as Schroeder, Aidan Gemme (Finding Neverland) as Snoopy, Milly Shapiro (Matilda) as Sally, Mavis Simpson-Ernst (Evita) as Lucy and Jeremy T. Villas (Kinky Boots) as Linus. Graydon Peter Yosowitz (The Odyssey) will perform the role of Charlie Brown June 1-7.
The production is directed by York associate artistic director Michael Unger, with music direction by Eric Svejcar and choreography by Jennifer Paulson-Lee.
“Come spend a couple of days in the lives of Charlie Brown and his pint-sized philosopher friends,“ state production notes. “From bright, uncertain morning to starlit, hopeful evenin, and all of the lonely brown-bag lunches, kite-flying failures, book reports, glee club rehearsals, and suppertimes in between.“
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown features a book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner and additional material by Andrew Lippa. It was last seen on Broadway in 1999 starring Roger Bart and Kristin Chenoweth, who both won Tony Awards for their roles.
Tickets for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown can be purchased by calling (212) 935-5820, online at yorktheatre.org, or in person at the box office at the York Theatre at Saint Peter’s (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, Manhattan).